Boot Camp of Valhalla: Reaper Unicorn (Design/Brainstorm)

[DanieLoche]

We want an effective-but-not-powerful healer, and we're doing an only-1-shot healer... IMO that's not a good idea...

Like Atlage for his Bolt, I'm quite sure that I'll never draft the Unicorn for his heal (or only for Charos + Uni combo...) but only for the capacity to carry and attack. But there's already Brunak for this... Moreover flameslayer's playtest is conforting my opinion. ^^

What about something like Sonlen's healing power, but more effective to get a healer and not a unit that can take a lot of various roles, but not very effectively.

HEALING HORN
After moving and before attacking with the Unicorn, you can choose another Hero figure within 3 clear sigh spaces of the Unicorn. Roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 7 or higher, you may remove 1 wound marker from the chosen army card.

Thus the Unicorn can carry a hero, then heal him and attack. To be effective, we could give her a Carry more like Talon Grab : the Unicorn can drop the carried hero during the move, to drop it just before going to the melee and attack, so she's still able to heal him.

[Dysole]

Don't unicorns need to touch people with their born to heal them? 3 clear sight spaces feels weird. I'd go with adjacent or something similar to reach powerwise. However this would make the power basically Lay On Hands so I think healing at least two wounds is a superior theme option.

Now then balance wise we need to make sure that Raelin, Q9, and the Hydra (the three units I'm most worried about) do not become insane when played with the unicorn.

~Dysole, on a random insomnia inspired bout

[DanieLoche]

Originally Posted by Dysole

Don't unicorns need to touch people with their born to heal them? 3 clear sight spaces feels weird. I'd go with adjacent or something similar to reach powerwise. However this would make the power basically Lay On Hands so I think healing at least two wounds is a superior theme option.

I didn't think about this. In fact in my head I was just imagining the Unicorn using a kind of magic channeled by the horn, not necessary having to touch someone to use it. But if most people are envisioning the healing like you, you're totally right, an adjacent healing at 2 wounds seems better.

[TheAverageFan]

If only we could avoid breaking theme with the Unicorn helping weaker allies as well as avoiding ridiculous healing with Charos/Braxas/Q9/Hydra. (cough, cough, small or medium, cough)...

~TAF

[Dysole]

Originally Posted by TheAverageFan

If only we could avoid breaking theme with the Unicorn helping weaker allies as well as avoiding ridiculous healing with Charos/Braxas/Q9/Hydra. (cough, cough, small or medium, cough)...

~TAF

*cough* Raelin *cough*

~Dysole, recalling what happened to the last BCoV

[TheAverageFan]

(cough, cough, true, cough)

I assume Raelin healing is inevitable, however.

[DanieLoche]

"Raelin is not affected by the Special Power Healing Horn".

[ollie]

Has anyone read Stephen Fry's The Hippopotamus? If so, are any scenes coming to mind from the power name Healing Horn? Maybe it's just me...

[Shiftrex]

Raelin healing seems like something a little silly to be concerned about because the piece isn't meant to directly augment Raelin... she just seems to directly augment a lot of different pieces. Is it worth trying to fuss over the healing ability to ensure that Raelin doesn't benefit from it?

I think the small/medium stipulation is honestly the best way to theme the ability in order to keep balance and... if we really want to break it down to the flavor of the Unicorn, Raelin seems like someone a Unicorn would actually heal in classical legend if she were weakened.

[flameslayer93]

Kelda, Sonlen, Ana, and Rhogar all heal Raelin for varying amounts. The price point we are choosing to depict for the Unicorn seems to make the horsey too expensive to be a truly vital ally for Raelin. At least Sonlen has elven synergies and a potent ranged attack, even if he does not have another support power.

[Lazy Orang]

It's not like Lay On Hands - Lay On Hands is less likely and tied to the other figure's turn, whereas this one is tied to the Unicorns. It may not sound like much, but gamplay wise it's a massive difference.

[flameslayer93]

Originally Posted by Lazy Orang

It's not like Lay On Hands - Lay On Hands is less likely and tied to the other figure's turn, whereas this one is tied to the Unicorns. It may not sound like much, but gamplay wise it's a massive difference.

Whichever one your talking about lol. Ana had the "on the other guy's turn" while Rhogar had the "on Rhogar's turn".

Lay on Hands is also not a one time use power. :P